Eight Flock license plate cameras stolen from Winona, Minnesota
All eight Flock license plate reader cameras deployed by the Winona Police Department in Minnesota were stolen between July 29 and August 1, 2026, with the poles they were mounted on cut down. The incident occurred amid growing public debate over surveillance and privacy concerns related to automated license plate readers in the region.
What happened
On August 1, 2026, the Winona Police Department discovered that all eight of its Flock license plate reader cameras were missing from their locations in the city. An officer initially noticed a lack of recent activity on the cameras and subsequent checks found the mounting poles cut down near the base, with the poles discovered in nearby weeds but the cameras removed.
Reported impact
The replacement cost for each camera and pole is approximately $3,000, putting the total cost at roughly $24,000 to replace all eight units. Service fees from Flock could add as much as $16,000 to the total bill.
Index analysis
The incident reflects broader community debate over Flock cameras and automated license plate readers in Minnesota. Comments on the police department's announcement expressed support for the theft, citing privacy and surveillance concerns, though the thefts remain unsolved.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.